KwaZulu-Natal: Rock Art, Drakensberg and Culture

The Maloti-Drakensberg Park is home to an estimated 690 rock art sites. Its rock paintings form the largest and most concentrated group in sub-Saharan southern Africa. For a trip to KwaZulu-Natal, this provides a clear cultural focus: the region can be explored not only through its landscapes, but also through its archaeological evidence.

Rock art, early history and nature

The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is designated an Important Bird Area. The Maloti-Drakensberg Park provides an important refuge for more than 250 endemic plant species. These two facts highlight different aspects of nature: the designation points to birds, while the plants bring endemic species into focus. Together with the rock art, they offer different perspectives on the parks, without reducing nature and culture to the same experience.

Another archaeological perspective is offered by the serial World Heritage property “The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa”. Sibhudu Cave is one of its sites in KwaZulu-Natal. The World Heritage property preserves exceptionally well-stratified and dated sedimentary records of early human life from approximately 162,000 to 38,000 years ago. Rock paintings and sedimentary records represent different kinds of archaeological evidence: on the one hand, an outstanding group of painted images; on the other, records of early human life placed in a chronological context.

Historical and cultural traces

The historical part of the Phoenix Settlement is closely linked to Mahatma Gandhi’s final decade in South Africa and his development of Satyagraha. This gives the region a concrete historical landmark alongside its archaeological themes. At a regional level, Zulu, Indian and colonial heritage is reflected in historical and cultural walking trails. These trails broaden the view from a single historic site to the several cultural influences represented across the region.

Routes, food and travel times

The Midlands Meander is an 80-kilometre route between Pietermaritzburg and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal. From Durban, the route is a little over an hour away via the N3 towards Pietermaritzburg; actual travel time varies depending on traffic and conditions. The two figures help with different planning questions: the 80 kilometres refers to the length of the route between its endpoints, while the time refers to the journey from Durban. Keeping the two separate helps you avoid confusing the route’s length with the time it takes to get there.

One culinary suggestion is a picnic at Swissland Cheese with handmade goat’s cheese. Offerings may change, so check whether the picnic is currently available before making plans. KwaZulu-Natal’s beer route includes eight breweries and showcases the history and craft of brewing beer. As the route’s composition may change, it is worth checking the latest information in advance.

The Sardine Run takes place annually on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Timing and sightings vary from year to year. If you are planning your trip around this event, check the situation for that year; its annual return does not mean that a particular sighting date is guaranteed. This is a different kind of travel guidance from that for the Midlands Meander: route length and approximate travel time are helpful there, while the Sardine Run depends on timings and sightings that vary each year.

Discover more destinations: Ugu, Umgungundlovu, Southbroom, Port Edward, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Bergville, Amanzimtoti, Paulpietersburg, Underberg, Mooi River, Richard's Bay, Winterton, Jozini, Kokstad, Kloof, Himeville, Vryheid, Cathkin Park, Makakatana, Ethekwini, Ilembe, Amajuba, Sisonke, East Griqualand, Empangeni, Durban Metro, Indlovu DC, Umhlanga, Verulam, Port Shepstone, Kwagingindlovu, Kwadukuza, Zululand, Uthungulu, Umzinyathi, Uthukela, Umkhanyakude.

For the broader travel overview: South Africa.